Published 4:00 am, Tuesday, June 20, 2006

Officials at the Pinnacles National Monument are trying to trap most of the park's California condors and test them for lead poisoning, which could be fatal to the endangered species.

Eleven of the Pinnacles' 13 condors were observed outside the monument last week feeding on carcasses of squirrels that were shot and killed with lead bullets, said Denise Louie, the park's chief of natural resources.

Even microscopic traces of lead can result into paralysis of the condors' digestive system and leave them unable to process food, park officials said. The birds become weak, mentally impaired and either starve to death or become prey to other predators.

Park officials laid traps for the birds over the weekend. Once captured, the condors' blood will be tested for lead. The birds will also be checked for rodenticides, which were used to poison some of the squirrels and could harm the birds, Louie said.

Birds found with high levels of contamination will be taken to the Los Angeles Zoo, where they might have to undergo surgery to remove lead from their crops or be treated with a compound that eliminates lead from their system.

It was unclear if the squirrels were killed for sport or because they had become a nuisance, Louie said.

"We don't know who shot the rodents or why," Louie said. "We just want to raise awareness around this issue. If rodents have to be shot, maybe their carcasses can be buried to protect not only condors but other carrion eaters and raptors."

California condors were first listed as endangered in 1967. Twenty years later, the last wild condors were taken to zoos for an intensive breeding program. The population has grown to about 300 birds.

Pinnacles is a historic breeding area for the condors. In 2003, it became the fifth area in the state to reintroduce condors into the wild.

The park is surrounded by undeveloped ranchland and the ranchers have shown steady support for the reintroduction program, park officials said.

"There has been an effort to raise awareness," Louie said. "We really need to put more effort into it because more needs to be done."